Ervin recognizes Wheaton Ice Skating Academy champions

The 10 nationally ranked ice dancers of the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy say they're used to flashing camera bulbs, crowds of people cheering for them and being adorned with awards—but not from their local government.

In a first for the academy, Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring showed up at the rink last week and pronounced her appreciation to the skaters for their hard work, achievements and for putting Wheaton "on the map" for ice skating. Representatives for U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington were also present.

"The Wheaton Ice [Skating] Academy and its students are a local success story, and their accomplishments should be celebrated," Ervin told the skaters and their parents.

Ervin was referring to the recent success of the 10 young skaters at December's U.S. Junior National Ice Dancing Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. At the competition, 11-year-olds Rachel Parsons of Derwood, and Kyle MacMillan of Washington, D.C., were crowned national champions in the juvenile ice-dancing category.

Back in the juvenile category, 8-year-old Katherine Gourianova placed 15th in the nation with her partner, 13-year-old Andrew Hickey.

The feat was huge for what was once a relatively unknown skating program, said parent Rich Parsons. He said only 16 intermediate-level teams and 19 juvenile dance teams in the entire country qualified for nationals. Five of those teams were from Wheaton, and four of them finished in the top five, he said.

"Everyone at nationals knows these skaters," Parsons said.

And now, everyone in the county government does, too, said Neil Greenberger, spokesman for County Council.

Greenberger said Ervin came out to the ice rink as part of the County Council's efforts to build a stronger relationship between local government and the youth it serves.

"Most kids don't even know that their local government even exits," Greenberger said.

Greenberger said the council recently has been trying to reach out to youth by visiting award-winning skating academies, producing county cable television geared toward youth and making a greater effort to meet with youth in their setting. "You have to go out to them," he said.

After receiving her certificate of accomplishment from Ervin and smiling for hundreds of photos, Rachel Parsons skated out onto the ice for practice a bit more confident, she said.

"It's amazing to have all these people recognize us," she said.

But the relationship is mutually beneficial, Ervin said, because it helps her connect to gems in her community, such as the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy.

"This is the kind of stuff they would shut down in a budget crunch," Ervin said of the ice arena. She then reassured parents she wouldn't let that happen, and that next year, half the County Council would be there to recognize the skaters.

Plus, perhaps one day Ervin can say she met a famous ice skater.

"These kids could have Olympic dreams, and it's not that unrealistic," Rich Parsons said.